Method of exchanging message and devices in wireless network

ABSTRACT

A method of exchanging messages at a device in a wireless network comprises transmitting a change request message for requesting a change of a beacon position among configuration parameters of the wireless network to a coordinator; and receiving a response message in response to the request message from the coordinator.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/155,502, filed on Feb. 25, 2009, which is hereby incorporated byreference as if fully set forth herein.

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No.10-2009-0112637, filed on Nov. 20, 2009, which is hereby incorporated byreference as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a wireless network, and moreparticularly, to a method of exchanging messages between devicesbelonging to a wireless network and the devices.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

Recently, Bluetooth and wireless personal area network (WPAN)technologies have been developed, which form a wireless network betweena relatively small number of digital devices in limited places such ashomes or small companies to allow audio or video data to be exchangedbetween the devices. The WPAN can be used for information exchangebetween a relatively small number of digital devices in a relativelyclose distance, and enables low power and low-cost communication betweenthe digital devices. IEEE 802.15.3 (Wireless Medium Access Control (MAC)and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications for High Rate Wireless PersonalArea Networks (WPANs)) approved on Jun. 12, 2003 defines specificationof a MAC layer and a physical (PHY) layer of high rate WPAN.

FIG. 1 is a brief diagram illustrating an example of a wireless privateaccess network (WPAN). As illustrated in FIG. 1, the WVAN is a networkconfigured between personal devices within a limited space such as home,and allows information to be exchanged between applications withoutseamlessness by configuring a network through direct communicationbetween devices. Referring to FIG. 1, the WPAN includes two or more userdevices 11 to 15, one of which acts as a coordinator 11. The coordinator11 provides basic timing of the WPAN and serves to control quality ofservice (QoS) requirements. Examples of the user devices includecomputers, PDAs, notebook computers, digital TVs, camcorders, digitalcameras, printers, mikes, speakers, headsets, bar-code readers,displays, and cellular phones. All digital devices can be used as theuser devices.

The WPAN is not predesigned but is an ad hoc network (hereinafter,referred to as ‘piconet’) formed if necessary without assistance of acentral infrastructure. A procedure of forming one piconet will bedescribed in detail. The piconet starts as a random device that can beoperated as a coordinator performs the function of the coordinator. Alldevices perform scanning before associating with the existing piconet orstarting a new piconet. Scanning means that a device collects and storesinformation of channels and searches whether the existing piconetexists. A device that has been commanded from an upper layer to start apiconet forms a new piconet without associating with a piconetpreviously formed on a random channel. The device starts a piconet byselecting a channel having little interference based on data acquiredduring scanning and broadcasting a beacon through the selected channel.In this case, the beacon means timing allocation information,information of other devices within a piconet, and control informationbroadcasted by the coordinator to control and manage the piconet.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a superframe used in apiconet. Timing control in the piconet is basically performed based onsuperframes. Referring to FIG. 2, each superframe starts by means of thebeacon transmitted from the coordinator. A contention access period(CAP) is used to allow devices to transmit commands or asynchronous databased on contention. A channel time allocation period includes amanagement channel time block (MCTB) and a channel time block (CTB). TheMCTB is a period where control information can be transmitted between acoordinator and a device or between devices. The CTB is a period whereasynchronous data or isochronous data can be transmitted between adevice and a coordinator or between other devices. For each superframe,the number, length and location of CAPs, MCTBs, and CTBs are determinedby the coordinator and transmitted to other devices within the piconetthrough the beacon.

When a random device within the piconet needs to transmit data to thecoordinator or other device, the device requests the coordinator toallocate channel resources for data transmission, and the coordinatorallocates the channel resources to the device within the range ofavailable channel resources. If the CAP exists within the superframe andthe coordinator accepts data transmission in the CAP, the device cantransmit data of small capacity through the CAP without being allocatedwith channel time from the coordinator.

If the number of devices within the piconet is small, since channelresources for data transmission from each device are sufficient, noproblem occurs in allocation of channel resources. However, if channelresources are insufficient due to a large number of devices, or if dataof large capacity such as moving pictures are transmitted, a problem mayoccur in that channel resources are not allocated to the other deviceseven though the other devices have data to be transmitted, wherebycommunication cannot be performed.

Even though the channel resources are allocated, since management andcontrol of the WVAN is performed by the coordinator, communicationquality may be deteriorated depending on the status of one or moredevices that belong to the WVAN.

In this respect, various methods for efficiently performing datacommunication between devices constituting WVAN without any problem arebeing studied.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

On a WVAN, a coordinator provides basic timing of the WPAN includingstart and end of the WVAN, and performs management and control of theWVAN including control of quality of service (QoS) requirements.

Also, the coordinator randomly determines whether to change a WVANconfiguration parameter and reports the changed result to one or moredevices that belong to the WVAN. For example, the devices of the WVANmay have different lengths of video data output intervals depending ondevice configuration and setup statuses. If WVAN timing is notsynchronized with video data output timing, wherein the WVAN timing andthe video data output timing are controlled by the coordinator, thenumber of times of buffering and the time required for bufferingincrease during an output procedure. Buffering is to buffer thedifference in processing speed by temporarily storing information tosmoothly transmit and receive data.

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a method of exchangingmessages between devices belonging to a wireless network and thedevices, which substantially obviate ones or more problems due tolimitations and disadvantages of the related art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method of exchangingWVAN parameter change messages between a device and a coordinator if aWVAN device decides to need change of a WVAN configuration parameter.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method oftransmitting a WVAN parameter change request message from a device to acoordinator and changing a WVAN parameter in accordance with the requestmessage of the device. Specifically, if a random device transmits arequest message to a coordinator by designating a desired one of WVANparameters and change matters in accordance with its status, thecoordinator determines whether to change the WVAN parameter and performschange of the WVAN parameter.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will beset forth in part in the description which follows and in part willbecome apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art uponexamination of the following or may be learned from practice of theinvention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may berealized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in thewritten description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with thepurpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, amethod of exchanging messages at a device in a wireless networkcomprises transmitting a change request message for requesting a changeof a beacon position among configuration parameters of the wirelessnetwork to a coordinator; and receiving a response message from thecoordinator in response to the request message.

Preferably, the request message comprises a command ID field comprisinga unique number that identifies the request message, a length fieldindicating a length of the request message and a beacon position changefield indicating an offset from an original beacon position to arequested new beacon position.

More preferably, the response message comprises a command ID fieldcomprising a unique number that identifies the response message, alength field indicating a length of the response message and a reasoncode field comprising a reason code.

If the reason code field comprises the reason code of “SUCCESS”, themethod according to the embodiment of the present invention furthercomprises receiving a plurality of beacons from the coordinator, each ofthe plurality of beacons comprises a parameter change informationelement (IE) including a changed beacon position.

More preferably, the parameter change IE comprises a IE index fieldcomprising a unique number that identifies the parameter change IE, achange type field indicating a type of the parameter to be changed, achange beacon number field comprising a beacon number of a superfamewhen the change of the parameter takes effect and a network parameterfield comprising information about a changed value of the parameter.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the informationabout the changed value of the parameter is an offset between expectedbeacon transmission time and time when a beacon will be transmittedafter the change of the beacon position. And, a last beacon among theplurality of beacons is broadcasted by the coordinator right before abeacon corresponding to the beacon number is broadcasted.

The method according to the embodiment of the present invention furthercomprises receiving a beacon to which the changed beacon position isapplied, from the coordinator.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, if the change ofthe beacon position is not possible, the reason code field comprises areason for failure.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the reason forfailure is any one of “Unsupported Feature”, “Already synchronized withhigher priority stream”, “Network shutdown in progress”, “Channel changein progress”, “Coordinator handover in progress” and “Other failure”.

Each of the change request message and the response message are includedin a media access control (MAC) packet.

In another aspect of the present invention, a device of a wirelessnetwork comprises a transmitting module, a receiving module and anetwork control module generating a change request message forrequesting a change of a beacon position among configuration parametersof the wireless network and transmitting the change request message to acoordinator through the transmitting module, wherein the receivingmodule receives a response message from the coordinator in response tothe request message.

Preferably, the response message comprises a command ID field comprisinga unique number that identifies the response message, a length fieldindicating a length of the response message and a reason code fieldcomprising a reason code.

If the reason code field comprises the reason code of “SUCCESS”, thedevice receives a plurality of beacons through the receiving module fromthe coordinator, each of the plurality of beacons comprises a parameterchange information element (IE) including a changed beacon position.

The device according to the embodiment of the present invention receivesa beacon to which the changed beacon position is applied, through thereceiving module from the coordinator

In another aspect of the present invention, a method of exchangingmessages at a coordinator in a wireless network comprises receiving achange request message for requesting a change of a superframe durationlength among configuration parameters of the wireless network from arandom device belonging to the wireless network and transmitting aresponse message to the device in response to the request message.

In another aspect of the present invention, a coordinator of a wirelessnetwork comprises a transmitting module, a receiving module receiving achange request message for requesting a change of a beacon positionamong configuration parameters of the wireless network from a randomdevice of the wireless network and a network control module generating aresponse message in response to the request message and transmitting theresponse message to the device through the transmitting module.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, on the WVAN, thedevice requests the coordinator to change the WVAN parameter inaccordance with its data output status, whereby efficiency of datacommunication can be enhanced more actively.

Specifically, as the device performs the change request of at least oneof a beacon position and a superframe interval to control WVAN timing inaccordance with its status, the number of times of buffering and thetime required for buffering can be minimized during a data outputprocedure.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description of the present invention areexemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide furtherexplanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principle of theinvention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a WPAN;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a superframe used in apiconet;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a WVAN;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a frequency band of HRP channels andLRP channels used in a WVAN;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a structure of asuperframe used in a WVAN;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating another example of a structure of asuperframe used in a WVAN;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a protocol layer structure implementedin a device of a WVAN;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a procedure ofestimating a channel in a wireless network according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a procedure ofexchanging messages for WVAN parameter change in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a MAC packet transmittedand received from and to devices in a WVAN in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data format thatincludes a MAC command according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating another example of a data format thatincludes a MAC command according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data packet thatincludes WVAN configuration information in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a video data outputprocedure according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a video data outputprocedure in a WVAN device according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating another example of a video data outputprocedure in a WVAN device according to one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 17 is a flow chart illustrating another example of a procedure ofexchanging messages for WVAN parameter change in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating other example of a MAC command formataccording to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating still another example of a video dataoutput procedure in a WVAN device according to one embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating further still another example of avideo data output procedure in a WVAN device according to one embodimentof the present invention; and

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an example of a broadcasting signalprocessing system that includes a WVAN device according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be usedthroughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

Hereinafter, structures, operations, and other features of the presentinvention will be understood readily by the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Embodiments described later are examples in which technicalfeatures of the present invention are applied to a wireless video areanetwork (WVAN) which is a kind of a WPAN.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a WVAN. In the samemanner as illustrated in FIG. 1, a WVAN of FIG. 3 includes two or moreuser devices 22 to 25, one of which acts as a coordinator 21. Thecoordinator 21 provides basic timing of the WVAN, maintains a track ofdevices belonging to the WVAN, and serves to control quality of service(QoS) requirements. The coordinator performs its function and at thesame time serves as one device belonging to the WVAN. Other devices 22to 25 different from the coordinator 21 can start stream connection.

One of the differences between the WVAN illustrated in FIG. 3 and theWPAN of FIG. 1 is that the WVAN of FIG. 3 supports two kinds of physical(PHY) layers. Namely, the WVAN supports physical layers, high-ratephysical (HRP) layer and low-rate physical (LRP) layer. The HRP layer isa physical layer that can support a data transmission rate of 1 Gb/s orgreater, and the LRP layer is a physical layer that supports a datatransmission rate of several Mb/s. The HRP layer is highly directional,and is used for transmission of isochronous data streams, asynchronousdata, MAC command and A/V control data through unicast connection. TheLRP layer supports a directional or omni-directional mode and is usedfor transmission of beacon, asynchronous data, and MAC command throughunitcast or broadcasting. The coordinator 21 can transmit or receivedata to and from other device using the HRP and/or LRP layer. The otherdevices 22 to 25 of the WVAN can also transmit or receive data using theHRP and/or LRP layer.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a frequency band of HRP channels andLRP channels used in a WVAN. The HRP layer uses four channels of abandwidth of 2.0 GHz in a band of 57 to 66 GHz, and the LRP layer usesthree channels of a bandwidth of 92 MHz. As illustrated in FIG. 4, theHRP channels and the LRP channels share a frequency band and are usedrespectively by a TDMA mode.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a structure of asuperframe used in a WVAN. Referring to FIG. 5, each superframe includesa beacon region where a beacon is transmitted, a reserved regionallocated to a random device by the coordinator in accordance with arequest of the devices, and an unreserved region not allocated by thecoordinator but transmitting and receiving data between the coordinatorand device or between devices in accordance with a contention basedmode, wherein each of the regions is time divided. The beacon includestiming allocation information in a corresponding superframe, andmanagement and control information of the WVAN. The reserved region isused to transmit data from a device, to which channel time is allocatedby the coordinator in accordance with a channel time allocation requestof the device, to other device. Command, data streams, asynchronousdata, etc. can be transmitted through the reserved region. If a specificdevice transmits data to other device through the reserved region, theHRP channel is used. If the device that receives the data transmitsACK/NACK signal of the received data, the LRP channel is used. Theunreserved region can be used to transmit control information, MACcommand, or asynchronous data between the coordinator and the device orbetween the devices. In order to prevent data collision between thedevices in the unreserved region, a carrier sense multiple access (CSMA)mode or a slotted Aloha mode can be used. In the unreserved region, thedata can be transmitted through the LRP channel only. If there are manykinds of control information or commands to be transmitted, the reservedregion can be set in the LRP channel. In each superframe, the length andthe number of reserved regions and unreserved regions can be varied persuperframe and are controlled by the coordinator.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating another example of a structure of asuperframe used in a WVAN. Referring to FIG. 6, each superframe includesa beacon field 30 where a beacon is transmitted, a reserved channel timeblock 32, and an unreserved channel time block 31. Each of the channeltime blocks (CTB) is time-divided into a HRP region to which data aretransmitted through the HRP layer and a LRP region to which data aretransmitted through the LRP layer. The beacon 30 is periodicallytransmitted by the coordinator to identify a beginning part of eachsuperframe, and includes scheduled timing information and management andcontrol information of the WVAN. The device can exchange data in thenetwork through the timing information and management/controlinformation included in the beacon.

In the HRP region, the reserved CTB field can be used to transmit datafrom a device, to which channel time is allocated by the coordinator inaccordance with a channel time allocation request of the device, toother device. If a specific device transmits data to other devicethrough the reserved CTB field, the HRP channel is used. If the devicethat receives the data transmits ACK/NACK signal of the received data,the LRP channel is used.

The unreserved CTB field can be used to transmit control information,MAC command, or asynchronous data between the coordinator and the deviceor between the devices. In order to prevent data collision between thedevices in the unreserved CTB field, a carrier sense multiple access(CSMA) mode or a slotted Aloha mode can be used. If there are many kindsof control information or commands to be transmitted, the reservedregion can be set in the LRP channel. In each superframe, the length andthe number of reserved CTB fields and unreserved CTB fields can bevaried per superframe and are controlled by the coordinator.

Furthermore, although not shown in FIG. 6, each superframe includes acontention-based control period (CBCP) located next to the beacon totransmit urgent control/management messages. The length of the CBCP isset so as not to exceed a given threshold value mMAXCBCPLen.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a protocol layer structure implementedin a device of a WVAN.

Referring to FIG. 7, a communication module of each device included inthe WVAN can include four layers depending on its function. Generally,the communication module includes an adaptation sublayer 40, a MAC layer41, a PHY layer 42, and a station management entity (SME) layer 43. Inthis case, a station is a device for identifying the coordinator, andthe station management entity (SME) means a device management entity(DME). The station management entity (SME) is a layer independent entitythat controls a lower layer and collects status information of devicefrom each layer. The station management entity SME includes entitiesthat manage each layer of the communication module. In this case, anentity that manages the MAC layer will be referred to as a MAC layermanagement entity (MLME), and an entity that manages the adaptationlayer will be referred to as an adaptation layer management entity(ALME).

The adaptation sublayer 40 includes an AVC protocol 400 and an A/Vpacketizer 410. The AVC protocol 400 is an upper layer that performsdevice control and streaming connection for A/V data transmissionbetween a transmitting device and a receiving device. The A/V packetizer410 formats A/V data for HRP data service.

The MAC layer 41 takes the role in link setup, connection ornon-connection, and channel access to a lower layer of a materialtransmission protocol, and also takes the role in reliable datatransmission. In other words, the MAC layer 41 serves to transmit acontrol/data message or control a channel.

The PHY layer 42 directly processes A/V data, or the A/V data may beprocessed simultaneously by the PHY layer 42 and the MAC layer 31. ThePHY layer is responsible for the task to convert a message requestedfrom the upper layers such as the adaptation layer 30 and the MAC layer41, so that the message can be sent and received between devices by thePHY layer. Also, the PHY Layer includes the aforementioned two kinds ofphysical layers, HRP layer 420 and LRP layer 421.

The layers of the device provide services such as a high rate service, alow rate service, and a management service. The high rate service isused for video, audio and data transfer, and the low rate service isused for transmission of audio data, MAC command, and asynchronous dataof small capacity. The respective layers transmit and receive a simplemessage to and from each other before a process of data exchange isperformed between the respective layers. The message exchanged betweensuch different layers is referred to as primitive.

Generally, one WVAN includes two or more devices through a specific HRPchannel and a specific LRP channel, wherein a random one of the two ormore devices acts as a coordinator.

In order to start the WVAN, the coordinator selects a channel having aminimum interference ratio for the WVAN through a channel searchprocedure. The coordinator may request other WVAN devices to estimate acandidate channel or may perform channel estimation by itself. Since thewireless network uses the HRP channel and the LRP channel, it performschannel estimation for at least one of the two channels.

An example of a channel estimation method will be described withreference to FIG. 8.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a channel scanprocedure for channel estimation in a wireless network according to thepresent invention. The WVAN includes a coordinator and one or moredevices through a specific channel. However, for convenience ofdescription, the other devices excluding the first device will not beshown in the following embodiment including the embodiment of FIG. 8.

Referring to FIG. 8, the coordinator transmits a channel scan requestmessage to devices belonging to the wireless network so as to estimate aspecific channel (S10). At this time, the request message for channelestimation can be included in the beacon, wherein the beacon isbroadcasted by the coordinator to all devices on the network.Accordingly, as the beacon that includes an information element (IE)‘SCAN IE’ for requesting channel estimation is transmitted, channelestimation can be requested to all devices within the network.

The device which has received the request message transmits a responsemessage for the request for channel estimation to the coordinator tonotify the coordinator whether to perform channel estimation (S11). Theresponse message may also include the ‘SCAN IE’. Since all deviceswithin the wireless network cannot perform channel estimation, it ispreferable that each device which has received the beacon notifies thecoordinator as to whether it can perform channel estimation.

If the first device transmits the response message for the request forchannel estimation to the coordinator, the coordinator allocates a timeperiod, i.e., channel time block (CTB) for channel estimation (S12). Thefirst device performs channel estimation by measuring an energy level, anoise level or an interference level on a specific channel forestimation for the allocated CTB (S13). Parameters that can estimate thechannel status are not limited to energy, noise and interference levelson the channel. For example, the first device can use a bit error rate(BER) or a frame error rate (FER) measured during data reception as aparameter that can estimate the channel status.

The first device transmits channel estimation information to thecoordinator after finishing channel estimation for the allocated CTB(S14). The coordinator determines whether quality of the specificchannel is sufficient to start the WVAN, through the received channelestimation information (S15). The coordinator which has decided to startthe WVAN using the corresponding channel starts to broadcast the beaconfor the superframe used in the WVAN (S16). The beacon includes timingallocation information in the corresponding superframe, channelinformation, and management and control information of the WVAN. As thebeacon is received, the devices belonging to the wireless network canidentify that the WVAN has been started.

If the WVAN is generated, the coordinator additionally allocates devicestation identifier (STID) to perform data exchange with other devicesthat desire to join the generated WVAN.

As described above, if the WVAN starts, a coordinator and one or moredevices, which belong to the WVAN, can directly perform data exchange,and the coordinator transmits information of the WVAN parameter to theone or more devices through the beacon. The WVAN parameter includes aWVNID parameter indicating identifier of a wireless network randomlyselected by the coordinator as the WVAN starts, a beacon positionparameter indicating the position where the beacon is transmitted, asuperframe duration parameter indicating a duration length of asuperframe constituting channel resources allocated from the coordinatorto the one or more devices, and a channel index parameter used in theWVAN.

The coordinator may randomly change configuration matters of the WVANparameter if necessary, or may change the WVAN parameter in accordancewith a request of the device according to one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a procedure ofexchanging messages for WVAN parameter change in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 9, for WVAN timing control,the device requests the coordinator to change the WVAN parameter of thebeacon position.

Referring to FIG. 9, as the WVAN starts, the coordinator periodicallytransmits the beacon one or more devices belonging to the WVAN (S30). Asdescribed above, the beacon is a signal for identifying a beginning partof a superframe used by each device. Also, since each device transmitsand receives data using one or more superframes, the coordinatorperiodically broadcasts the beacon.

The first device of the one or more devices transmits a beacon positionchange request message to the coordinator to request the position changeon a time axis of the beacon transmitted from the coordinator inaccordance with its status (S31). The coordinator determines whether tochange the beacon position in accordance with the request of the firstdevice (S32). And, the coordinator transmits a beacon position changeresponse message to the first device, wherein the beacon position changeresponse message includes the result determined for the beacon positionchange request (S33).

If the coordinator decides to change the position on the time axis ofthe beacon in accordance with the request of the first device, ittransmits a new beacon to the device, wherein the beacon includes WVANconfiguration information. The WVAN configuration information includes aWVAN parameter change IE. The coordinator transmits the WVANconfiguration information changed at least one time to the devicesbelonging to the wireless network through the beacon (S34 and S35). Forexample, if the coordinator intends to apply the changed WVANconfiguration information starting from the nth beacon transmission, ittransmits the WVAN parameter information to be changed to the otherdevices through the mth (m<n) beacon to the n−1th beacon. Even thoughthe coordinator decides to change the WVAN parameter, it does not applythe changed WVAN parameter as soon as it decides to change the WVANparameter. In order that the device, which is transmitting data receivedthrough the original superframe duration, changes its configurationstatus in accordance with the superframe position, the coordinatorpreviously transmits the WVAN parameter change information severaltimes. Likewise, in order that the device, which is transmitting channelresources to the other device, controls data transmission through thechanged channel resources according to the changed WVAN parameter,wherein the channel resources are allocated from the coordinator, thepreparation time can be reduced.

Afterwards, the coordinator performs change of the WVAN parameter forthe beacon position (S36), and transmits the beacon to the first deviceby applying the changed WVAN parameter (S37).

Hereinafter, an example of a data format for transmitting the beaconposition change request message and its response message will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 10 to FIG. 12.

The beacon position change request message and its response message arekinds of MAC commands and can be included in a MAC packet exchangedbetween the coordinator and the device. However, it is not limited thatthe beacon position change request message and its response messageaccording to the embodiment of the present invention are included in theMAC packet. Namely, the beacon position change request message and itsresponse message may be transmitted as another type data format.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a MAC packet transmittedand received from and to devices in a WVAN in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 10, a WVAN MAC packet includes a MAC header 60 and apacket body 61 having a plurality of sub-packets. Generally, the MACpacket can be used to refer to data packet. A region between the MACheader 60 and the first sub-packet is an HCS region that includes CRCsof 32 bits. The packet body 61 can include a minimum single sub-packetor maximum seven sub-packets, wherein the respective sub-packets mayhave various sizes. The MAC command is included in the packet body thatincludes sub-packets.

One sub-packet can include n number of MAC commands, and its data formatincludes an independent MAC command identification field 610 that canidentify each of the MAC commands.

The MAC command identification field 610 can be segmented into a MACcommand ID field 6100 for identifying a command type, a length field6101 for identifying a length of MAC command, and a command data field6102 for identifying command data.

The beacon position change request or the superframe duration changerequest according to the embodiment of the present invention can beperformed through the MAC command ID field 6100 and the command datafield 6102.

Generally, when transmitting data to a receiving device through channelresources allocated from the coordinator, a transmitting device uses aplurality of superframe used in the WVAN. As described with reference toFIG. 5, each superframe includes a beacon region where a beacon foridentifying a beginning part of the superframe is transmitted, areserved region where channel resources are allocated by the coordinatorin accordance with a request of the device, and an unreserved regionwhere data are transmitted and received in accordance with a contentionmode between the devices. The coordinator periodically transmits thebeacon for identifying the beginning of the superframe to the devices,wherein data transmission and reception is not performed between thedevices in the period where the beacon is transmitted.

In other words, if the receiving device is displaying video datatransmitted from the transmitting device and the coordinator transmitsthe beacon during the video data display procedure, transmission anddisplay of the video data are stopped for the time corresponding to theperiod where the beacon is transmitted. Namely, buffering occurs duringthe data display procedure in the receiving device, and as the sameprocedure is repeated, the number of times of buffering and the timerequired for buffering are increased.

Accordingly, in the aforementioned embodiment, the receiving device canrequest the beacon position change for WVAN timing control to minimizethe number of times of buffering and the time required for bufferingaccording to the data display.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data format thatincludes a MAC command according to one embodiment of the presentinvention. Specifically, FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a data formattransmitted from the device to the coordinator to request the beaconposition change.

Referring to FIG. 11, the beacon position change request messagetransmitted as a kind of MAC commands includes a command ID field 700for identifying a command type, a length field 701 for identifying alength of a message, and a beacon position change field 702 indicating aoffset from a original beacon position to the a requested new beaconposition. The beacon position change field 702 can include a beaconposition change level, and data indicating a detailed command messagecommanded from the device to the coordinator, indicating whether thebeacon transmission is performed prior to the beacon position change ordelayed.

For example, an example of the beacon position change request messageincludes a beacon position change offset value using random dataallocated to the beacon position change field 702. The beacon positionchange offset value represents a shift distance based on a specificbeacon or the position to which the original beacon is transmitted.Since the superframe used by the device is basically time-divided basedon the channel resources, a microsecond unit is used.

Also, the beacon position change offset value can represent whether thebeacon transmission position changed using random data allocated to thebeacon position change field 702 is prior to the original transmissionposition or delayed. For example, if 2 bytes (16 bits) are allocated, itis possible to request whether the beacon position changed through thefifteenth bit among the 16 bits is temporally prior to the originalbeacon transmission position or delayed. If the fifteenth bit is 0, itis requested that the beacon should be delayed temporally as comparedwith the original beacon transmission position. If the fifteenth bit is1, it is requested that the beacon should be transmitted prior to theoriginal beacon transmission position. At this time, the beacon positioninformation set for the bit value of 0 may become contrary to the beaconposition information set for the bit value of 1.

For another example, if the transmission position starting from the nthbeacon is to be changed, the beacon position change field 702 caninclude data of the distance between the n−1th beacon and the nthbeacon.

Also, the beacon position change field 702 can comprises moreinformation indicating the expected transmission time that the beaconchanged will be sent by the coordinator.

In addition, more detailed and various request messages can be includedin the beacon position change field 702 in accordance with dataallocated to the beacon position change field 702.

In this way, the coordinator which has received the beacon positionchange request message from the device transmits a response message tothe beacon position change request message to the device.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating another example of a data format thatincludes a MAC command according to one embodiment of the presentinvention.

Specifically, FIG. 12 relates to an example of a response messagetransmitted from the coordinator which has received the beacon positionchange request to the device in response to the beacon position changerequest. Also, a response message to a length change request message ofa superframe duration which will be described later can also beconfigured in the same manner as the data format of FIG. 12.

Referring to FIG. 12, the response message format of the beacon positionchange can include a MAC command ID field 800 for identifying a commandtype, a length field 801 for identifying a length of MAC command, and afield 802 for identifying command contents.

The field 802 for identifying command contents can include informationindicating whether the coordinator accepts the beacon position changerequest of the device and indicating a reason code if the coordinatorrejects the beacon position change request. Table 1 illustrates anexample of a response message according to the reason code identified inthe field 802.

TABLE 1 Valid Value of Reason Code Response Message 0 Success 1Unsupported Feature 2 Already synchronized with higher priority stream 3WVAN shutdown in progress 4 Channel change in progress 5 Coordinatorhandover in progress 6-254 Reserved 255 Other failure

Referring to Table 1, if the reason code has a value of 0, it indicatesan acknowledgement response that the coordinator will change the beaconposition in accordance with the request of the device. If the reasoncode does not have a value of 0, it indicates that the coordinatorrejects the request of the device and also indicates the reject reasonin accordance with the value of the reason code.

Whether the beacon position change can be performed in accordance withthe request of the device may depend on performance of the coordinator.If the value of the reason code is 1, it indicates that the beaconposition change in the corresponding coordinator is not supported. Also,since the coordinator transmits the beacon to the one or more devicesbelonging to the WVAN, it can synchronize a beacon transmission periodfor higher priority data streams, wherein the data streams are beingoutput from either a device, which has transmitted the request message,or another device.

If the value of the reason code is 2, it indicates that the coordinatorrejects the request message by synchronizing other higher priority datastreams. For example, the coordinator can receive the request messagefrom the one or more devices of the WVAN. In this case, the coordinatordetermines higher priority data streams based on resolution and decidesto change the WVAN parameter in accordance with a request of the devicethat displays the corresponding data streams, whereas the coordinatortransmits a response message to the other devices, wherein the responsemessage includes reason code 2.

If the value of the reason code is 3, it indicates that the WVAN isbeing shut down. Shutdown of the WVAN can be performed by thecoordinator only. The coordinator performs shutdown of the WVAN inaccordance with the request of a MAC upper layer. If the value of thereason code is 4, it indicates that the coordinator is performingchannel change. If the value of the reason code is 5, it indicates thathandover from the current coordinator to another coordinator is beingperformed. If the value of the reason code is 6-254, a reserved regionis not used. If the value of the reason code is 255, it indicates otherfailure reason of other beacon position change request.

Each reason code listed in Table 1 above is an example of a responsetype that can be expressed by the response message to the beaconposition change request. The response message type set to each reasoncode value can be varied, and can be implemented in more detailed andvarious manners in accordance with data allocated to the reason code.

If the coordinator transmits an response message (reason code 1) bydeciding to follow the beacon position change request of the device, thedevice broadcasts the beacon as much as the number of times previouslyset, wherein the beacon includes change information of the WVANparameter of the beacon position.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data packet thatincludes WVAN configuration information in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention. Specifically, FIG. 13 illustratesinformation of changed WVAN parameter.

Referring to FIG. 13, an example of a data packet that includes a WVANparameter change information element includes an IE index field 900 fora use of IE indicating data for providing WVAN parameter changeinformation, a length field 901 indicating a length of a data format, achange type field 902 indicating a type of a parameter to be changed, achange beacon number field 903 indicating a first beacon number to whichthe changed WVAN parameter is applied, and a WVAN parameter field 904indicating a WVAN parameter.

The change type field 902 can represent a desired one to be changedamong the WVAN parameters using various values. For example, if 1 octet(8 bits) is allocated to the parameter type identification field 502,the WVAN parameters can be represented as illustrated in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Change Type Value WVAN Parameter 0x00 WVNID 0x01 Beacon Position0x02 Superframe duration 0x03 Channel Index 0x04-0xFF Reserved

As illustrated in Table 2, the changed WVAN parameter can be indicatedin accordance with a data value corresponding to the parameter typeidentification field 902. Its details can be represented in the WVANparameter field 904.

If the value of the change type field 902 is 0×00, it indicates changeof a WVNID parameter. The WVNID parameter can be changed if thecoordinator searches another WVAN having the same WVNID on differentchannels. If the WVNID parameter is changed, it indicates informationindicating new WVNID through at least one bit of the WVAN parameterfield 904.

If the value of the change type field 902 is 0×01, it indicates changeof a beacon position parameter. The beacon position parameter can bechanged if the coordinator desires to shift a relative position of thebeacon on the time axis. At this time, information of new beaconposition is included in the WVAN parameter field 904. For example, theWVAN parameter field 904 can include changed beacon transmissionposition information depending on commands commanded from the device tothe coordinator as described in FIG. 11, wherein the commands include abeacon position change level and information as to whether beacontransmission is prior to change or delayed.

If the value of the change type field 902 is 0×02, it indicates changeof a superframe duration parameter. The superframe duration parametercan be changed depending on the number of devices belonging to the WVANand traffic load. If the superframe duration parameter is changed,detailed information of the changed superframe duration length isincluded in the WVAN parameter field 904.

If the value of the change type field 902 is 0×02, it indicates changeof a channel index parameter. The channel index parameter can be changedif at least one of the HAP channel and the LRP channel which are beingused is intended to be changed to other channel due to seriousinterference occurring between a random device or coordinator and otherWVAN. For channel change, the coordinator requests the devices belongingto the same WVAN as that to which the coordinator belongs to performchannel estimation and channel search and performs channel change basedon the request. During channel change, the WVAN parameter field 904 isused to indicate the changed HRP and LRP channel index information.

The beacon number field 903 indicates a beacon number for identifying abeginning part of a superframe to which the changed WVAN parameter isapplied. Namely, since each superframe is identified by the beacontransmitted from the coordinator, the devices use a wireless network towhich the WVAN parameter is applied, in accordance with transmission ofthe nth beacon represented in the beacon number field 903.

Hereinafter, examples of a change request of a beacon position parameterof WVAN parameters in accordance with the embodiment of the presentinvention will be described with reference to FIG. 14 to FIG. 16.

For example, if the receiving device belonging to the WVAN is displayingvideo data among data received from the transmitting device, the methodillustrated in FIG. 14 can be used.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a video data displayprocedure according to one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG.14, an example of a method of playing uncompressed video streamsincludes a method of scanning video data onto a display screen using anelectron beam.

Referring to (a) of FIG. 14, video data are sequentially scanned from aright upper part of the display screen to a left bottom part of thedisplay screen. If the video data are scanned to reach the lowest part,scanning returns to the uppermost part. As this electron beam scanningon the display screen is vertically repeated, a video screen is played.At this time, the scanning interval of the video data from the uppermostpart to the lowest part of the screen will be referred to as an activevideo area. The time interval required to return to the uppermost partafter scanning of the video data to the lowest part of the displayscreen will be referred to as a blanking interval or a vertical blankinginterval.

In (b) of FIG. 14, for convenience of description, a video data displayprocedure (a) performed vertically is arranged on a horizontal plane,and a video data display interval where the video data are output on adisplay is obtained by repetition of the active video area and theblanking interval.

Accordingly, the interval where the video data are output on the displaymay be affected by WVAN timing.

Hereinafter, in FIG. 15 and FIG. 16, it is assumed that a superframeduration length is consistent with a length of the video data displayinterval before the device requests the coordinator to perform change ofthe beacon position.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a video data displayprocedure in a WVAN device according to one embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 15, a video data display interval for outputting videodata among data received from the transmitting device to the receivingdevice is obtained by repetition of the active video area and theblanking interval. At this time, if the coordinator transmits the beaconin the active video area, the transmitting device cannot transmit datato the receiving device for the time corresponding to a receivingduration of the beacon, whereby data transmission is stopped.Accordingly, the time required for buffering occurring during the videodata display procedure and the number of times of buffering increase inthe receiving device.

Generally, the active video area and the blanking interval togetherconstitute one video data display interval. In this case, the video datadisplay interval is defined to have a given period. Also, since a beacontransmission period is controlled by the coordinator, the beacontransmission period is maintained regularly. Accordingly, if a buffertransmission interval is included in the active video area, the sameprocedure is repeated, and buffer size increases in accordance with thelapse of time.

In this respect, in order to minimize the buffer size occurring duringthe video data output procedure, the receiving device can designate thechange position of the beacon and request the coordinator to transmitthe beacon for the blanking interval. Since the video screen is notdisplay for the blanking interval even though the video data aretransmitted for the blanking interval, the video data are used totransmit time code, closed caption, text multiplex broadcasting or otherdigital data.

If the coordinator transmits the beacon by changing the beacon positionon the time axis in accordance with the request of the device, thebeacon can be synchronized with the blanking interval as illustrated inFIG. 16.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating another example of a video datadisplay procedure in a WVAN device according to one embodiment of thepresent invention.

Referring to FIG. 16, if the coordinator changes the beacon position bysynchronizing the beacon transmission interval with the blankinginterval in accordance with the request of the receiving device, thebeacon transmission interval is synchronized with the blanking interval.Under the assumption that there is no other data loss or transmissionbreak reason, the receiving device can continuously receive data fromthe transmitting device for the active video area throughsynchronization of the beacon and the blanking interval. Accordingly, itis possible to gradually reduce buffer size in accordance with the lapseof time while reducing the number of times of buffering occurring in theactive video area.

As described above, synchronization of the beacon transmission intervaland the blanking interval through the beacon position control accordingto the embodiment of the present invention can be used when thesuperframe duration length is identical with the length of the videodata display interval including the active video area and the blankinginterval. If the superframe duration length is not identical with thelength of the video data display interval, the beacon transmissioninterval may not be synchronized with the blanking interval again duringa video data display operation which will be performed later.

Accordingly, for WVAN timing control, the device according to theembodiment of the present invention can request the coordinator tochange a WVAN parameter of the superframe duration length.

FIG. 17 is a flow chart illustrating another example of a procedure ofexchanging messages for WVAN parameter change in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 17, for WVAN timingcontrol, the device requests the coordinator to change the WVANparameter of the superframe duration.

Referring to FIG. 17, as the WVAN starts, the coordinator periodicallytransmits the beacon one or more devices belonging to the WVAN (S40).The first device of the one or more devices transmits a superframeduration change request message to the coordinator in accordance withits status (S41). The coordinator determines whether to reduce or extendthe superframe duration in accordance with the request of the firstdevice (S42). And, the coordinator transmits a superframe durationchange response message to the first device, wherein the superframeduration change response message includes the result determined for thesuperframe duration (S43).

If the coordinator decides to change a superframe duration range inaccordance with the request of the first device, it transmitsinformation of the changed WVAN parameter to the first device and otherdevices through the beacon as much as the number of times previously set(S44 and S45). The WVAN parameter change information can be transmittedthrough the data format illustrated in FIG. 3. Namely, the superframeduration change information requested from the device is included in thechange type field 902 indicating a type of the changed WVAN parameterand the field 904 indicating the WVAN parameter.

Afterwards, the coordinator performs change of the WVAN parameter forthe superframe duration (S46), and transmits the beacon to the firstdevice by applying the changed WVAN parameter (S47).

The superframe duration change request message and its response messageare also kinds of MAC commands, and can be included in the MAC packetexchanged between the coordinator and the device.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating other example of a MAC command formataccording to one embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, FIG.18 illustrates an example of a MAC command transmitted from the deviceto the coordinator to request change of the superframe duration length.

Referring to FIG. 18, the superframe duration change request messagetransmitted in a type of a MAC command includes a command ID field 1000for identifying a command type as described in FIG. 10, a length field1001 for identifying a length of a message, and a superframe durationchange field 1002 indicating superframe duration change request. Forexample, the superframe duration change field 1002 can include dataspecifying a new superframe length to be requested by the device.Basically, the superframe is an interval that includes CTBs of channelresources allocated from the coordinator to the coordinator and is basedon the time axis. Accordingly, the device can request the coordinator ofsuperframe duration of a new length within 0 to 65535 microsends. Foranother example, the superframe duration change field 1002 can includerequest information of an increase or decrease level based on theoriginal superframe duration length.

As described above, the superframe duration change request can includechange of the superframe duration length for synchronization of thebeacon transmission interval and the blanking interval. Also, a randomdevice belonging to the WVAN can transmit a superframe duration lengthchange request message to the coordinator in accordance with trafficload.

An example of a response message transmitted from the coordinator inresponse to the superframe duration length change request message isidentical with the data format described with reference to FIG. 12.Namely, the data format that includes the response message includes acommand ID field 800 indicating a command type, a length field 801indicating a length of a MAC command, and a field 802 indicating commandcontents. The field 802 can include information indicating whether thecoordinator accepts the request of the device and a reason code of areject reason if the coordinator rejects the request. Since the responsemessage depending on a value of the reason code has been described withreference to Table 1, the same description will be omitted for briefnessof the description.

Hereinafter, examples of the superframe duration length change requestamong the WVAN parameters according to the embodiment of the presentinvention will be described with reference to FIG. 19 and FIG. 20. InFIG. 10 and FIG. 20, before the device requests the coordinator tochange the superframe duration, it is assumed that the beacontransmission interval is synchronized with the blanking interval.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating another example of a video data outputprocedure in a WVAN device according to one embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 19, as an example of a method of displayinguncompressed video data of data received from the transmitting device,if the receiving device scans video data to the display screen using anelectron beam, a video data display interval is obtained by repetitionof the active video area and the blanking interval.

Even though the beacon transmission interval of the beacon issynchronized with the blanking interval, if the superframe durationlength is not synchronized with the length of the video data displayinterval, the beacon transmission interval fails to be synchronized withthe blanking interval in accordance with the lapse of time and isincluded in the active video area. Since the transmitting device stopsdata transmission for the beacon transmission interval, buffering occursin the active video area. As this procedure is repeated, buffer sizeincreases gradually.

Accordingly, in order to minimize the buffer size as the beacontransmission interval is synchronized with the blanking interval, thedevice according to the embodiment of the present invention can requestthe coordinator to change the superframe duration to synchronize thesuperframe duration length with the length of the video data displayinterval.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating further still another example of avideo data display procedure in a WVAN device according to oneembodiment of the present invention. Specifically, FIG. 20 illustratesan example that the receiving device transmits a WVAN parameter changerequest message by designating the superframe duration length to changethe superframe duration length in accordance with the length of thevideo data display interval and the coordinator changes the superframeduration length in accordance with the WVAN parameter change requestmessage.

In a state that the beacon transmission interval of the coordinator issynchronized with the blanking interval, if the superframe durationlength is synchronized with the length of the video data displayinterval, the beacon periodically transmitted from the coordinator canbe transmitted within the blanking interval. Accordingly, the deviceaccording to the embodiment of the present invention can graduallyreduce buffer size in accordance with the lapse of time while reducingthe number of times of buffering occurring in the active video area.

Unlike the aforementioned embodiment, for WVAN timing control, thedevice may transmit a message for requesting change of the beaconposition and the superframe duration length to the coordinator.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an example of a broadcasting signalprocessing system that includes a WVAN device according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

The WVAN device can play A/V data through processes which will bedescribed layer, wherein the A/V data are input from at least one of abroadcasting station, cable, satellite, and other WVAN device through anantenna. If the WVAN device receives data from other device, it could bea receiving device. If the WVAN device transmits data to other device,it could be a transmitting device. Also, the WVAN device can performmessage exchange with the coordinator.

Referring to FIG. 21, the broadcasting signal processing system thatincludes the WVAN device according to the embodiment of the presentinvention includes a receiving device 1100, a remote controller 1110, alocal memory device 1120, and a network device 1130 for performingwireless communication with a receiving device 1240.

The transmitting device 1100 that transmits A/V data includes areceiving module 1101, a demodulation module 1102, a decoding module1103, a display module 1104, a control module 1105, a channel resourcecontrol module 1106, a graphic processor 1107, a transmitting module1108, and a control signal communication module 1109. In the example ofFIG. 19, the transmitting device further includes a local memory device1120 directly connected with the transmitting module 1108 that includesinput and output ports. However, the local memory device may be a memorydevice mounted in the transmitting device 1110.

The transmitting module 1108 can communicate with the wire/wirelessnetwork device 1130, and can be connected with at least one receivingdevice 1140 through the network device 1130, wherein the at least onesecond device 1140 exists on the wireless network. The control signalcommunication module 1109 receives a user control signal in accordancewith a user control device, for example, remote controller, and outputsthe received signal to the control module 1105.

The receiving module 1101 could be a tuner that receives a broadcastingsignal of a specific frequency through at least one of ground wave,satellite, cable, and Internet network. The receiving module 1101 may beprovided respectively for each of broadcasting sources, for example,ground wave broadcasting, cable broadcasting, satellite broadcasting,and personal broadcasting. Alternatively, the receiving module 1101 maybe a unified tuner. Also, supposing that the receiving module 1101 is atuner for ground wave broadcasting, at least one digital tuner and atleast one analog tuner may be provided respectively, or a digital/analogtuner may be provided.

Furthermore, the receiving module 1101 may receive internet protocol(IP) streams transferred through wire and wireless communication. If thereceiving module 1101 receives IP streams, the receiving module 1101 canprocess transmitting and receiving packets in accordance with an IPprotocol that establishes source and destination information forreceived IP packets and packets transmitted from the receiver. Thereceiving module 1101 can output video/audio/data streams included inthe received IP packets in accordance with the IP protocol, and cangenerate transport streams to be transmitted to the network as IPpackets in accordance with the IP protocol so as to output them. Thereceiving module 1101 is an element that receives an externally inputvideo signal, and, for example, may receive IEEE 1394 type video/audiosignals or HDMI type streams from the outside.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, if thetransmitting device transmits channel time extension information to thereceiving device, it can receive a response message to the channel timeextension information from the receiving device through the receivingmodule 1101.

The demodulation module 1102 demodulates broadcasting signals among datainput through the receiving module 1101 or broadcasting signalstransmitted from the receiving device in an inverse order of amodulation mode. The demodulation module 1102 outputs broadcastingstreams by demodulating the broadcasting signals. If the receivingmodule 1101 receives stream type signals, for example, IP streams, theIP streams are output to the decoding module 1103 after bypassing thedemodulation module 1102.

The decoding module 1103 includes an audio decoder and a video decoder,and decodes the broadcasting streams output from the demodulation module1102 through a decoding algorithm and outputs the decoded streams to thedisplay module 1104. At this time, a demultiplexer (not shown) thatsplits each stream in accordance with a corresponding identifier mayadditionally be provided between the demodulation module 1102 and thedecoding module 1103. The demultiplxer splits the broadcasting signalsinto an audio element stream (ES) and a video element stream and outputsthem to each decoder of the decoding module 1103. Also, if a pluralityof programs are multiplexed in one channel, the demultiplexer selectsonly a broadcasting signal of a program selected by a user and splitsthe selected broadcasting signal into a video element stream and anaudio element stream. If data streams or system information streams areincluded in the demodulated broadcasting signals, they are split by thedemultiplexer and then transferred to a corresponding decoding block(not shown).

The display module 1104 displays broadcasting contents received from thereceiving module 1101 and contents stored in the local memory device1120. The display module 1104 can display a menu indicating whether thememory device has been mounted in the transmitting device andinformation related to the remaining capacity of the memory device, inaccordance with a control command of the control module 1105, and can beoperated under the control of the user.

The control module 1105 can control the operations of the aforementionedmodules (receiving module, demodulation module, decoding module, displaymodule, graphic processor, network control module, and interfacemodule). Also, the control module 1105 displays a menu that receives acontrol command of the user, and drives an application that displaysvarious kinds of information or menu of the broadcasting signalprocessing system for the user.

For example, the control module 1105 can read out the contents stored inthe local memory device 1120 if the local memory device 1120 is mountedin the transmitting device. Also, the control module 1105 can controlthe operation of the local memory device 1120 so that the broadcastingcontents received from the receiving module 1101 are stored in the localmemory device 1120 if the local memory device 1120 is mounted in thetransmitting device. Furthermore, the control module 1105 can output acontrol signal for mounting the local memory device 1120 depending onwhether the local memory device 1120 has been mounted in thetransmitting device.

The control module 1105 checks remaining memory capacity of the localmemory device 1120, and allows information of the remaining memorycapacity to be displayed for the user on the display module 1104 throughthe graphic processor 1107. The control module 1105 can shift thecontents stored in the local memory device 1120 to the remote memorydevice if the remaining memory capacity of the local memory device 1120is not sufficient. In this case, the control module 1105 can display amenu indicating whether to shift the contents stored in the local memorydevice 1120 to another local memory device (not shown) or the remotememory device through the display module 1104. And, the control module1105 can receive and process a user control signal of the menu.Accordingly, the control module 1105 can allow the contents stored inthe local memory device 1120 and other directly or remotely mountedmemory device to be shifted between them and stored therein.

The network control module 1106 may directly receive the broadcastingsignals from the receiving module 1101, or may receive the broadcastingsignals demodulated by the demodulation module 1102. In case of theformer case, an encoding process may be omitted. Also, the broadcastingsignals received by the receiving module 1101 can be input to thenetwork control module 1106 after going through a processing procedurefor signal transmission in the control module 1105. For example, if amessage including the broadcasting signals is received from thetransmitting device, the received message is split into a broadcastingsignal and MAC message by the network control module 1106. The splitbroadcasting signal (or broadcasting stream) is input to the decodingmodule 1103, decoded by a decoding algorithm, and output to the displaymodule 1104.

The network control module 1106 includes a module operated to allow thebroadcasting signal receiver 1100 belonging to the WVAN to control aWVAN configuration parameter. Although the device not the coordinatorcannot directly change the WVAN parameter, the broadcasting signalreceiver 1100 according to the embodiment of the present invention cantransmit a MAC command requesting change of the WVAN parameter to thecoordinator 1140 in accordance with its operation status. The networkcontrol module 1106 determines a desired parameter to be changed amongthe WVAN parameters, generates a change request message, and transmitsthe generated change request message to the coordinator through thenetwork device 1130.

For example, like the aforementioned embodiment, if video data receivedby the broadcasting signal receiver 1100 are output from the displaymodule 1104, the network control module 1106 can generate a changerequest message of at least one of a beacon position and a superframeduration length for WVAN timing control, thereby minimizing a size ofbuffering occurring during an output procedure. Namely, the networkcontrol module 1106 is a second controller that manages and controls thedevice communication module illustrated in FIG. 7 to generate a WVANparameter change request message that is a kind of a MAC command. Also,the network control module 1106 can determine a response message to theWVAN parameter change request message received from the coordinatorthrough the receiving module 1101.

If the broadcasting signal receiver 1100 illustrated in FIG. 21 is adevice that performs a function of the coordinator in the WVAN, thenetwork control module 1106 can directly mange and control the WVAN andcontrol change of the WVAN parameter.

For example, if the broadcasting signal receiver 1100 is a coordinatoraccording to the embodiment of the present invention, it can receive theWVAN parameter change request message from the WVAN device through thereceiving module 1101, and the received message is transferred to thenetwork control module 1106. The network control module 1106 determineswhether to change a parameter of channel resources, which will beallocated, in accordance with the WVAN parameter change directionsincluded in the request message, and generates a response message to thedetermined result. Also, the generated response message can becontrolled to be transmitted to the device which has transmitted theWVAN parameter change request message through the transmitting module1108.

Meanwhile, a control mode of the network control module 1106 can beperformed by the control module 1105. For convenience of description,although the control module 1105 and the network control module 1106 areprovided separately in FIG. 21, these control modules can be implementedby one system chip as illustrated in a dotted line.

The graphic processor 1107 processes a graphic to be displayed so that amenu screen is displayed in a video image displayed by the displaymodule 1104, and controls the graphic to be displayed in the displaymodule 1104 together with the menu screen.

The transmitting module 1108 can be used to transmit the MAC commandgenerated by the network control module 1106 to the coordinator 1140through the wire and wireless network, or transmit data from thebroadcasting signal receiver 1100 to another device.

Also, the transmitting module 1108 can include an interface module toperform bidirectional communication between the devices belonging to theWVAN. The interface module can be interfaced with at least one seconddevice 1140 through the wire and wireless network. Examples of theinterface module include Ethernet module, Bluetooth module, shortdistance wireless Internet module, portable Internet module, home PNAmodule, IEEE1394 module, PLC module, home RF module, and IrDA module.

The terms herein can be replaced with other terms. For example, “device”can be replaced with user device (or machine), station, etc., and“coordinator” can be replaced with coordinating (control) device,coordinating (or control) station, piconet coordinator (PNC), etc. Also,the WVAN parameter configuring the WVAN can be used to refer to thenetwork configuration information.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the presentinvention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing fromthe spirit and essential characteristics of the invention. Thus, theabove embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrativeand not restrictive. The scope of the invention should be determined byreasonable interpretation of the appended claims and all change whichcomes within the equivalent scope of the invention are included in thescope of the invention.

1-15. (canceled)
 16. A method of exchanging messages at a coordinator ina wireless network, the method comprising: receiving a change requestmessage for requesting a change of a superframe duration length amongconfiguration parameters of the wireless network from a deviceassociated with the wireless network; and transmitting a responsemessage to the device in response to the request message, wherein thesuperframe duration length comprises the length of a superframe forchannel resources allocated from the coordinator to another device. 17.The method of claim 16, wherein the request message comprises a commandID field comprising a unique number that identifies the request message,a length field indicating a length of the request message, and asuperframe duration field indicating a requested superframe durationlength.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the response messagecomprises a command ID field comprising a unique number that identifiesthe response message, a length field indicating a length of the responsemessage, and a reason code field comprising a reason code.
 19. Themethod of claim 18, further comprising transmitting a plurality ofbeacons to the device when the reason code field comprises the reasoncode of “SUCCESS”, wherein each of the plurality of beacons comprises aparameter change information element (IE) including a changed superframeduration length.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the parameterchange IE comprises a IE index field comprising a unique number thatidentifies the parameter change IE, a change type field indicating atype of the parameter to be changed, a change beacon number fieldcomprising a beacon number of a superframe when the change of theparameter takes effect, and a network parameter field comprisinginformation about a changed value of the parameter.
 21. The method ofclaim 20, wherein the information about the changed value of theparameter is a new superframe duration length.
 22. The method of claim20, wherein a last beacon among the plurality of beacons is broadcastedby the coordinator prior to a broadcast of a beacon corresponding to thebeacon number.
 23. The method of claim 19, further comprisingtransmitting, to the device, a beacon to which the changed superframeduration length is applied.
 24. The method of claim 18, wherein thereason code field comprises a reason for failure when the change of thesuperframe duration length is not possible.
 25. The method of claim 24,wherein the reason for failure is one of “Unsupported Feature”, “Alreadysynchronized with higher priority stream”, “Network shutdown inprogress”, “Channel change in progress”, “Coordinator handover inprogress” and “Other failure”.
 26. The method of claim 16, wherein thechange request message and the response message are included in a mediaaccess control (MAC) packet.
 27. A coordinator of a wireless networkcomprising: a transmitting module; a receiving module configured toreceive a change request message for requesting a change of a superframeduration length among configuration parameters of the wireless networkfrom a device of the wireless network; and a control module configuredto generate a response message in response to the request message and totransmit the response message to the device via the transmitting module,wherein the superframe duration length comprises the length of asuperframe for channel resources allocated from the coordinator toanother device.
 28. The coordinator of claim 27, wherein the responsemessage comprises a command ID field comprising a unique number thatidentifies the response message, a length field indicating a length ofthe response message, and a reason code field comprising a reason code.29. The coordinator of claim 28, wherein the control module transmits aplurality of beacons via the transmitting module to the device when thereason code field comprises the reason code of “SUCCESS”, each of theplurality of beacons comprising a parameter change information element(IE) including a changed superframe duration length.
 30. The coordinatorof claim 30, wherein the control module transmits a beacon, via thetransmitting module, to the device to which the changed superframeduration length is applied.